Folks, if the leaked episode is as awful as everyone says, it is unlikely to be legitimate.  Disappointing I could believe.   Even bad I could believe.  But epically, historically atrocious seems like a stretch for the climactic episode in such a great show.  (The Seinfeld finale notwithstanding . . . .)

I think it's a deliberately leaked parody designed to throw us off the trail.  That would be classic Mentalist, in keeping with the spirit of the show.  Parts of the leaked episode may be real -- quite possibly the early parts, but not the end.  I haven't seen the leaked episode, but supposedly the McAllister reveal happens early and then there is a lot of senseless chasing.  I'm guessing that McAllister will show up early in the episode tomorrow and will seem to be Red John -- for a while.  But then the real Red John will appear.  Probably Partridge (though I would prefer Mashburn, who's a better evil twin for Jane). 

There is no way Heller would portray Red John as a real psychic -- one of the main themes of the series is that psychics aren't real.  Also, I don't think Heller would leave all the key mysteries of the show unexplained; he specifically said that "all will be revealed" and that he wants to keep faith with the audience.

Heller also specifically said that Red John killed Partridge for a reason in episode 2 this year.  That reason has yet to be revealed, and the most likely reason is that BP is Red John and needed to escape detection.  I think the writers have gone to great lengths this year to make us think it's not Partridge, which is a compliment to the audience for having figured out he's the guy.  If the leak is real, I'm Britney Spears.

Looking forward to tomorrow night.  Keep the faith!

This episode was so banal, the revelation of Red John as well. He was not reveled by PJ, he actually revealed himself. Nothing was explained, what his motivation in killing? He had a powerful secret organization in his hands, why start killing random people? The profile does not fit somehow, there's something wrong. I do not believe the writers did a brilliant job for five seasons and threw everything in the trash, nothing fits. The profile of Rj we know from past seasons is a cold person, seductive, he could recruit disciples who were idolized him and that they were willing to die for it, not this orgainização police recruits. He is also a very arrogant man, and could not bear anyone to talk about him (he killed several people just by commenting their crimes pejoratively).

If this is indeed the actual episode so I quit watching.

The leaked episode "This IS the show, and they are NOT changing it!!!"

   Here is the behind the scenes of Bruno Heller pitching the "Red John" episode to CBS execs, Jason Alexander plays BH and Jerry Seinfeld plays Simon Baker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG7ymv0ptLo

   What do you think -- how accurate is this?

Further question:  Why would the spend so much money on producing this leaked episode if they weren't going to air it?  It matches the preview spot on.  I don't like it either, but it has some merit here and there.

GUYS THE LEAKED EPISODE IS FAKE!!! THINK ABOUT IT. IT IS WAY TO "TYPICAL" FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SHOW. IT WAS SO BADLY WRITTEN COMPARED TO OTHER IMPORTANT EPISODES!!!

THIS THEORY IS THE TRUTH: IT DOES NOT TELL WHO RED JOHN IS BUT HOW HE IS CAPTURED!!!! WHOEVER MADE THIS THEORY IS AMAZING I REALLY BELIEVE IT.

http://www.whoisredjohn.com/See-a-theory-Red-John/14444

HUGE SPOILERS IF ITS TRUE.

Brett Partridge is my suspect because I do want him to be RJ.

But I have see people wanting to know what say the first theories that Thomas McAllister should be Red John.

I just read the first one, and it's the 3578th theory in the site (http://www.whoisredjohn.com/See-a-theory-Red-John/3578).

The first of all theories (http://www.whoisredjohn.com/See-a-theory-Red-John/1) was posted approximately one year ago, and the first theory of the sheriff was posted only 5 months ago. What I want to point is that, until the list of the seven was revealed, "nobody" could bet sheriff is RJ, it would be like you guess Mashburn is (moreover, not Mashburn, as he appears at the 168th theory (http://www.whoisredjohn.com/See-a-theory-Red-John/168)).

After all, there are points at this theory we can't ignore:
- what is said about Napa: "In episode 3x04 Van Pelt goes to lunch with O'Laughlin by helicopter. The circumstance comes up again and Van Pelt asks him where would they go to lunch: Craig says "Napa". McAllister is the sheriff in the County of Napa.";
- if he is really RJ, what he done while playing jokenpo becomes awesome: "Patrick, as usual, denies he's got "powers", then he challenges McAllister at rock, paper, scissors, always defeating him. Of course that could be an act by McAllister and maybe it was he who wanted to lose.";

Good bye and I keep in the hope that the leaked episode is a fake!

OH MY GOD MENTALIST FANS! I JUST FOUND OUT SOMETHING:

From the leaked episode:
http://imageshack.com/a/img844/4113/98o3.png

From the trailer: 
http://imageshack.com/a/img69/8997/gvrx.png

I know it still shows Thomas McAllistar, but at least this gives us hope!.

PLEASE, Bruno Heller.......... this episode HAS to be fake.
McAllister even called PJ of "PAT".

<img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/t6816o.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/10n87xs.jpg">

<img src="http://oi40.tinypic.com/35kikx1.jpg">